Printing-machine.



@.LFULK.-

FHINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. ISIS;

Y' N DI w MT X.

I n I umili miga IIIlI! 1 G. L. FULK.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLlcATIoN FILED APR. 5. 191e Patented oct. 22,- 1318.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET Z.'

G. I.. FULK.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN FILED APR. 5. 191s.

Patented. Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented 0st. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. L. FULK.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APP'ICATION FILED APR. 5. 1916;

.Ell .1T nab .mc w s arena nica.

GEORGE L. FULK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE POSTAL SUPPLY & MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

menait Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. a2, rais.

Application led pril, 1916. Serial No. 88,999.

This invention relates to printing mecha-.

nism in which there are arranged a plurality of printing instrumcntalities which print in prearranged sequence and relative position to form a group of-lines of printed matter and indefinitely repeat the impressions of the groups of lines upon a strip of suitable material which is moved and is severed between each group of lines, thereby forming slips.

In another aspect the invention provides an improved printing mechanism having distinct instrumentalities for the printing of constantly recurring matter or unvarying matter, and constantly changing or variable matter in definite relation at each-impression of the printing instrumentalities'.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine as above referredto, wherein the instrumentalities used and their arrangement and manner of coperationare such as to permit very rapid printing.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming-"a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine; Fig. i is a sectional elevation showing a portion of the mechanism of the machine; F ig. 5 is a section showing a detail of construction; Fig. 6 is a side elevationvof the showing in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the machine; Fig. 8 is atop plan view of a part shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. l0 is a slip such as used in my machine in unfolded condition; Fig. l1 shows an enlarged view of a folded slip; Fig. 12 shows the reverse side of a folded slip.

There are certain classes of printed matter which involve the production of a series of slips of printed matter in which the matter upon each slip is different in part,

at ieast from the matter which occurs upon the other slips. mentioned theater tickets, in which, when printing a set bearing a given date, each ticket mustalso have a different row designation and seat designation upon it; or, if the tickets be printed for a complete season, each ticket must vary in row designation and number designation and then the tickets ymust vary with respect to the dating.

The foregoing illustrationI will serve to designate a typeof this class of printing which is more or less familiar, but there is another example of this type of printing Which is perhaps not `so familiar, viz: the printing of slips which are used by postal clerks to be inserted in a holder carried by each Inail pouch, Whichslip must contain certain data required by the post oiiice rules to be placed on the slip, among which items required to be on the slip are the place to which the pouch is destined, the place from which the pouchhas come, and frequently in this connection the number of the train upon which the pouch is made up. Further, the date upon which the sack is made up must be given and the name of the clerk who has prepared the pouch.

It will be understood that a clerk, on making a run on a given day, will be required to prepare pouches for a number of diiferent destinations. Consequently, in printing these slips, bearing a single date, each. slip will contain constantly recurring matter, towit: the date,'the name and place from which the pouch comes, and also each slip will in turn bear a legend diiierent from all the others, to-wit: the place to which the sack is destined to go.

lIn printing these slips it is convenient to simultaneously print a plurality of runs, that is to say, to make up the necessary slips for a number of different runs which occur on different dates, and the machine of this invention is more particularly designed to print slips of the character just described, although its organization is such of slips where, on each slip, there is matter which is recurring and matter which 1s ychanging upon successive slips.

Among such slips may be that it can be utilized to print other forms itil@ shaft.

The shaft 52 is hollow and through it there extends a rod 52a which at its .end is provided with a head 52". This head is in alinement and in front of the end of hollow-shaft 52. The rod is jointed as indicated at 52d and the joint is such that the part of the rod connected with the head cannot rotate with respect to the rest of the rod 52. The rod 52a extends beyond the shaft 52 and is held at its outer end in a convenient manner as suggested at 52c in Fig. et, the head 52b is provided with a depressed portion. The rod 52 is spring pressed inwardly b v aA spring 52e and the rod 52a is prevented from turning by any suitable means, as by a loop 52g which is secured to the shaft and engages the base of the machine.

There extends in alinementwith the shaft 52 a reciprocating shaft 5l. This shaft at its outer end is provided with a reduced neck portion 54D and is adapted to receive a printing impression member The printing element, is not secured to the shaft 5i buteXtends through a suitable opening in the impression member The printing element 55 carries a. pin 56 and the impression member 53 carries a pin or stop 57. l/Vhen, therefore. the impression member 53 turns as the shaft 52 is turned the pins 56 and 57 will engage each other and will definitely position the impression membersv 53 and 55 with respect tok each other and the engagement will also cause the driving of the impression member The shaft 54e is adapted to be reciprocated at suitable intervals and as it is reciprocated away from the shaft. 52, the impression member 55 will be engaged by a pivoted stop member or gate 58 which will cause the impression member 55 to be pushed olf the neck 54:1 and dropped into ay chute 59. As the shaft 5l reciprocates ifurther it comes beneath a chute 60 which is provided with an inner channel of suitable form to receive impression member 55 which may be fed through the chute and which are intended to be successively fed onto the shaft 5l and to operate in connection with the impression member 53.

The lower part of the chute 60 is closed by a slide 6l which in turn is operated b v the shaft 5%. There is a pin G2 which extends from the plate (il and extends into a slot 83 formed in the shaft 5i. This pin 82 is adapted to strike against the end of the slot 63 at proper time to withdrawA the slide 6l so that it will fall in front of the shaft 54 when the shaft 54 is reciprocated to its most outward position. The slide is connected to a pin 65 by means of a pivoted lever 66. The pin 65 will be moved in a direction opposite to the slide 61. Therefore when the slide 6l moves to uncover the lower end of the chute the pin 65 will move in to hold the impression member which is above the lowermost printing element from descending, so that when the slide 61 uncovers the lower end of the chute only one impression member can be removed. When the slide 6l again covers the end of the chute 60 the pin 65 is withdrawn and allows the printing element which has been held, to descend to the .lower end of the chute and in position to be subsequently fed from the chute. Clearly the chute 60 may be constructed to cont-ain as many printing impression members as may be desired.

The stop member 58 is pivoted and when there is a printing element taken up by the end of the shaft 5l as it is fed from the chute 60, the forward movement of the shaft 54 toward the printing element is not hindered by the member 58 as it may be pushed out by the shaft and the impression member carried thereby.

As the shaft 5i is reciprocated away from printing' position, the rod 52a and head 52b move with the shaft7 being moved by spring 52e. The rod 52l moves until the loop 52g engages with the gear i8, at this time the head 52b stops so as to leave suiicient space between the head 52b and the gate 58 for the impression member which is supported upon the end of shaft 54, to drop, as the impression member is moved off of the shaft, by the engagement of the impression member with gate 58.

lVhen the shaft 5% moves toward printing position after taking up a new impression member and the gate 58 is engaged and moved to permit the new impression member to pass, there may be a tendency for the impression member to tip. but this is relieved by the engagement of the end of shaft 5-L with the head 52D which of course prevents tl1e new impression member leaving shaft 5l. The continued movement of shaft 5l, causes the head 52b and rod 52a to move, and compresses the spring 52e.

The shaft 54 may be reciprocated in any desired manner and as a convenient means of accomplishing this T have devised the following mechanism:

To the shaft 54 is pivoted a member 70 and to this member there ispivoted a le ver 'Tl which lever Tl .as is shown in Fig. l is pivoted to an arm T2. The arm 72 is pivoted to a crank 73 which is carried upon one face of a gear T-l. The gear 7% is preferably a bevel gear and meshes with a bevel gear 75 the member 6 and as this member is made to be slightly resilient, the buckle will be removed from the strip as soon as the severing is completed, by the passage of the slip between the member 6 and the platform 8.

Right at the end of the platform 8 there is a receptacle 9 which at its lower end forms a trough, as indicated at 10 this receptacle 9 being adapted to receive the slips as they are severed and the trough to convey the slips away from the machine to a point at which they may be conveniently removed and handled. The upper part of the chute 9 is provided witli slots 11 in one wall thereof and slots 12 thereof in an opposite wall, Vthe slots 11 and 12 being in alinement. Extending through the slots 11 is a Wire loop 13. This loop has a head portion 13a and the ends of the loop are suitably secured in a rotatable member, as indicated at 14. This rotatable member is spring retained, as indicated at l5 in Fig. 3 so that when the wire loop is depressed the spring 15 will tend to return it t0 its initial position. Carried by a rotatable member 7, which carries the knife 7, is an loutwardly extending post 16. rlhis carries two arms 17 and these arms are adapted to move through the slots 12, engage the head 13n of the spring loop 13 and depress it. rl`hese arms 17 are so arranged with respect to the knife that they will be bearing upon the loop 13 to depress it at just the time that the severed slip is ready to descend in the receptacle 0, and the spring loop engaging the slip will forcefully push it into the receptacle thus removing any 4chance of the slip flying out and not being properly placed in the receptacle.

The loop 13 descends suiiiciently far in the receptacle 9 to push the slip beneath the spring' arms 0 which are mounted at opposite sides of the chute and have portions extending within the chute.

ln the machine here shown and described there are two sets of links shown, together with two drums corresponding to the drum 20, upon which link printing chains may he sup-ported. Both of these drums 20 and are adapted to be moved sidewise so that wlhile one chain of links 22 is being eniployed in the printing operation a second set of printing links may be made. For instance. the links cooperating with the drum QOH'mav be in preparation while links co operating with di'uin 20 are printing and when the run with the links on the drum 20 has been completed the links col'ierating with the drum 20a may be pushed over into operative position and the links coperating with the drum 20 pushed out. of operative position, and the links cooperating with the drum 20 may be changed to make up a new printing set while the links cooperating with the drum 20a are printing.

This may be accomplished by mounting the drums 20 and 2OEL upon the shaft 21 in such a manner that they will be in driving relationship to the shaft 21 when they are in position to print, and out of driving relationship when they are not in position to print. Furthermore, it will be necessary to move the upper channel members 24.- and the lower channel members 25 and the channel members which hold the links of the printing chain coperating with the drum 20a. As one mea-ns for accomplishing this I may use arms such as shown at 101, 102, which are connected with the lower channel inembers supporting the printing chains and with the drums 20 and 20a.' These arms or inembers 101, 102, are formed with racks at their outer ends as illustrated at 102, and coperating with the racks are gears illustrated at 103. The gearsare carried lupon a shaft 10i which may be operated by a handle 105. It will be understood that there will be a plurality of such arms as illustrated at 101 and 102, extending throughout the length ofthe machine and cooperating with the lower channel members which support the printing chain. Each of these arms will coperate with a gear such as shown at 103, which will be carried upon the shaft 104, so thatl all the gears upon this shaft may be simulta neously operated and thus eti'ectually cause the side movement of the drums 20 and 20a las well as the channels which support the printing chain associated with each drum.

The particular slip which is printed by the machine organized as heretofore described is shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12. One side of the folded slip in enlarged form `is shown in Fig. 11, while the reverse side of the slip is shown in Fig. 12. The slip unfolded and with the printed matter on is shown in Fig. 10. rlhe particular slip with its many folds herein described is not at all essential to the operation of the machine which has heretofore been described, but as these slips when printed must meet the requirements of the post office department, .we have shown such a slip as is required by them. So far as the printing is concerned, however, it occupies only the portions of the slip which are shown in the drawing.

The matter which is shown as printed upon the slip in Fig. 11, embodies the/vari` able matter and a part of the constant mattei', that is to say, the lines Omaha and Ogverse side el the slip, as shown in Fig. l2, would be Constant, so far es the nanie is concerned, and so far as the (late is Concerned, until all the slips for given dele lincl been niade up. Then of Course, it would be necessary fo make up the saine slips for another (late.

lt will be seen liet lie number of links in the priming eliain may be es fen' or es nizinj/ as is desirable, so liat a coinplefe run o as nieny or as few slips may be nincle up as is desirable.

Furthermore1 the parcieular run of :i ral Clerk ni'ziy be iliade up Yfor :i nnniber of lates in advance for eeeli pesal Clerk knews nl least Within liinis jus en Winni. (lays lie Will ineke his runs enel inst wlmi seeks he will be required in prepare.

lt Willbe apparent 'freni lie fleserigtion of ille machine 'eline zaliene will be :i link in llie priming Chain prepared fer eaeli seek n'liicli musi ne made up by Lilie pesel clerk., and Wnen this grinning eliein luis prinefl all ille links onee for e given (lele one run will lieve been eeinpleleel. le will V@lien be in 0reler 'lo Clinge 'lle @lele @nel run e. second series of slips ffiili llie nenv l running enelseries el slips wit dale.

series of slips, llie prined inet-ter being in vparla eenslint ngen all of *elle slips and in perl varying upon each successive slip, a plureliy @i links which are pivoted lo each nher. piinlin' characters carried by eaeli link the elmracers of eeen link differing' freni ille characters on lelie oliers, n platen willi ywhich each link in 'lurn eeperales., :i second printing insruinenelity Consising 0f an impression member and a plzifen7 ineens for supplying a strip 0i' impression receiving' nnierinl lo the links and lieir plete and ille seeend prining instrumenn eliy in snecessien, ineens severing lie slrip ini-e slips after lliey are prinefl upon, enel inenns 'for epeming lie prinl'ing nreilninisns in harmony? elle impressions "ng nieellrinisni regisering ngen lie impression receiver printing a mailer being in vl'lie slips and in i @recessive slip, coinpi ity 0i lin s n'liieli are pirei, i nera *nin-ting' elizirnc'ers Carrilinx, the elnireelers of eaeli iii-nl nl@ ille characters liable drinn aronnfl in er links passes., @leien "ales n i 0; n inl ineens `for en rereii'inn inermi plying a continuous strip of impression receiving material to pass between the chain and its platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for severing said strip into slips after printing, mechanism operating the impression member in harmony, the impressions o; the printing mechanism registering when printing upon the impression receiving material.

e. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all of the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising an impression member and a platen cooperating therewith, a second printing mechanism comprising two parallel printing chains each composed of a plurality of links which are pivoted to each other, printing characters' carried by each link, means for moving the said parallel printing chains,

means for moving either one of said printing chains in alineinent with the first mentione impression member and platen, a platen with which each of the links in the printing chain which is in alinement with the impression member and its platen may in turn coperate, means for supplying impression material to the printing chain in operating position and its platen and to the first mentioned impression member and its platen in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed uponthe impression receiving material.

5. A printing machine comprising a series of links which are pivotally connected to each other, each of said links serving as a form carrier, printing characters carried by each link form, means for supporting the chain of links and for moving' the same, a platen with which each link in turn coperates, means for supplying impression receiving material between the links of the chain and the platen, a second printing chain, comprising links o/ the same character of the first mentioned links, means for supporting the said second set of links and for moving the same, a common support for both rinting chains and means for moving said) support to bring either one or' said printing chains into printing relationship:

6. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the rinted matter being in part constant upon allpthe slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a printing mechanism having an impression member, which .comprises a plurality of groups of printing characters, the printing characters oie each group being di'erent from `the characters of the others, a platen with which each of the groups ci2 characters in turn cooperates, a second printing instrumentality consisting ci an impression member and a platen, means for holding a new nisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving material.

7. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a printing mechanism having an impression member, which comprises a plurality of groups of printing characters; the printing characters of each group being different from the characters of the others, a platen with which each vof the groups of characters in turn cooperates, a second printing instrumentality, comprising a reciprocating support, an impression member carried by said support, a platen with which said impression member coperates, means for reciprocating the support at predetermined intervals in the operation of the printing machine, the said impression member being removed as the said support reciprocates, means for Supplyin a new impression member and causing t esame to be moved into the path of movement of said reciprocating support and to be engaged by said support, thereby mov- 'ing the new impression member into printing position, means for supplying impression receiving material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing 'mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanism registering when printing upon the impression receiving material. v I

8. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the rinted matter being 1n part constant upon al the slips andin part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a printing mechanism having an impression member, which comprises a plurality of groups of printing characters, the printing characters of each group being different from the characters of the others, a platen with which each of the groups of characters .in turn coperates, a second printing instrumentality comprising a driven shaft and iixed impression member carried by said shaft, a reciprocating shaft in alinement with the driven shaft` a removable impression member carried by said reciprocating shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft at predetermined intervals in the operationot the printing machina/.the removable impression member being removed from the reciprocating shaft as .it reciprocates, means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft, the said shaft moving the new impression member to printing position, stops carried by said impression members whereby the lined impression member will engage the assembly impression member and cause it to turn as the iiXed shaft is operated, means for supplying impression material to the iirst printing instrun'ientality and to the second printing,` instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering When printed upon the impression receiving material.

9. printing machine for printing a series ot slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprisingI a printing mechanism having an impression member, which comprises a plurality or groups of printingcharacters, the printing characters ot each group being different from the characters ot' the others, a platen with which each oi the groups of characters in turn cooperates, a second printing instrumentality consisting ot" an impression member and a platen, a support upon which said impression member is removably carried, means for moving the said supporting member at predetermined, intervals in the operation of the machine, whereby the impression member carried thereby is removed, means for supplyinga neu7 impression member, the said movable support engaging with a new impression member after the supportJ has discharged its first mentioned impression member, the support then moving; the impression member thus engaged in w printing position, means tor preventing the new imy pression member from falling ed the support as the support moves said impression member into printing position, means for supplying impression receiving material to the iirst mentioned printing instrumentality and tothe second printing instrumentality in succession, means Yfor operating' the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions ci" the printing mechanisms registering' when .printed upon the impression receiving material.

p l0. fl printing machine tor printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprisingl a printing mechanism having an impression member, which comprises ya plurality of groups of printing characters, the printing characters or each group being ditl'erent from the characters or" the others, a platen With which each of the ,groups ot characters in turn cooperates, a second printing; instrumentality consisting` an impression member and a platen, a support 'upon which ried, means 'for moving the said supporting member at predetermined intervals in the operation ci the machine, whereby the impression member carried thereby is removed, means tor supplying a new impression member, the said movable support engaging Wit-h the said neuv impression member after the aid support has discharged the first mentioned impression member, the support then moving the impression member thus engaged into printing position, a member moving with the reciprocating shaft, said member engaging with the impression member carried thereby through a portion ot the travel of the reciprocating shaft tor the purpose oi preventing the impression member from leaving said shaft, means tor supplying impression receiving material to the first mentioned print-ing instrumentality and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means tor operating' the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving` material.

ll. A printing machine vfor printing a series ci slips, the printed matter. being in part constant upon all the slips and, in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a plurality ot links which are pivoted to each other, printing characters carried by each linlr, the characters of each linlr (littering from the characters oi the others, a platen with which each link in turn cooperates, a second printing instrumentality consisting ot' an impression member and a platen, means for holding a new impression member to be used and means for removing a used impression member and replacing it with another impression member at.v predetermined intervals in the operation or" the machine, means for supplying impression receiving material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions ot the printing mechanisms registerine when printed upon the impression receiving material.

1Q. A printing mechanism for printing a series ot slips, the printed matter being' in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising` a plurality ot links which are pivoted to each other, printing characters carried upon each linlr, the characters of each linlr (littering from the characters ot the others, a platen with which each linlr coperates, a second printing instrumentality consisting or" an impression member and al platen, a support upon which the said impression member is removably carried, means tor moving the said support-ing member at predetermined intervals in the operation or the ereby the impression member eey is removed, means for holdill@ ing a plurality of impression members, the said movable support engaging with one of 4said impression members from the supply after the said support has discharged the first mentioned impression member, the support then moving the impression member thus engaged into printing position, means for supplying impression receiving material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving material.

13. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a plurality of links which are pivoted to each other, printing characters carried by each link, the characters of each link differing from the characters of the others, a platen which each link in turn cooperates, a second printing instrumentality comprising a, reciprocating shaft, an impression member carried by said shaft, ya platen' with which said impression member coperates, meansfor reciprocating the, shaft at predetermined intervals in the operation of the printing machine, the said impression member being removed from, the shaft as the said shaft reciprocates, means for supplying a new impression member and causing the same to move into the path of movement of the said reciprocating shaft and to be engaged by said shaft thereby to move the new impression member into printing position, means for supplying impression receiving material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality inY succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving material.

14. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprisi ing a plurality of links which lare pivoted to each other, printing characters carried by each link, the characters of each link differing from the characters of the other, a platen with Whicheach link in turn coperates, a second printing instrumentality comprising a fixed impression memberand a removable impression member, a platen with which said impression members coperate, means for removing the removable impression member and replacing it with a newl v impression member at' predetermined periods in the operation' of the yprinting machine, means for supplying impression receiying material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality' in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving material.

l5. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all theslips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a plurality of links which are pivoted to each other, the printing characters carried by each link, the characters of each link diering from the characters of the others,- a platen with which each link in turn coperates, a second n printing instrumentality comprising a driven shaft, a fixed impression member carried by said shaft, a reciprocating shaft in alinement with the driven shaft, a removable impression member carried by said reciprocating shaft, means for reciprocating saidshaft at predetermined intervals in the operation of the printing machine, the removable impression member being removed from the shaft as it reciprocates, means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft, the shaft moving the new impression member to printing position, stops carried by the said impression members whereby the .{ixed impression member will engage the removable impression member and cause it to turn as the fixed shaft is turned, means for lsupplying impression material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon `the impression receiving material.

16. A printing mechanism for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a plurality of links which are pivoted to each other, printing characters carried upon each link, the characters of each link; differing from the characters of the others, a platen with which each link operates, a second printing instrumentality consisting of an impression member and a platen, a support upon which said impression member is removably carried, means for moving the said supporting member at predetermined intervals in the operation of the machine whereby the impressiony member carried thereby is removed, means for supplying a new impression member, said removable support engagving with said new impression member after the said support has discharged the rst mentioned impression member, the support movement, the retaining member preventing the impression member carried upon the reciprocating shaft from dropping off the same, means for supplying impression material to the first mentioned printing instrumentality and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanisms registering when printed upon the impression receiving material.

21. A printing machine for printing 'a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, comprising a printing mechanism having an impression member, which comprises a plurality of groups of printing characters, the printing characters of each group being different from the characters of the others, a platen with which each of-the groups of characters in turn coperates, a second printing instrumentality comprising a driven .shaft and fixed impression member carried by said shaft, a reciprocatin shaft in aline- ',ment with the driven sha t, a removable impression member carried by said reciprocating shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft at predetermined intervals in the operation of the printing machine, the removable impression member being removed fromthe shaft as it reciprocates, means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft, the said shaft moving the new impression member to printing position, a movable retaining member extendin through the said fixed shaft but notturmng therewith, said retaining member engaging the impression member carried upon the reciprocating shaft, means for moving the said retaining member with the reciprocating shaft to a portion of its movement, the retaining member preventing the Impression member carried upon the reciprocating shaft from dropping off the same, stops carried by the said impression members whereby the fixed impression member Will engage the removable impression member and cause it to turn as the fixed shaft is turned, means for supplying impression material to the first mentioned printing instrumentality and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operating the printing mechanisms in harmony, the impressions of the printing mechanismsregistering when printed upon the impression receiving material. Y

A printing machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating shaft, an impression member carried by said shaft, a platen with which the impression member coperates, means for reciprocating said shaft at predetermined intervals, means for removing the impression member from the shaft as the shaft is reciprocated, means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft during its reciprocation, the shaft moving the new impression member to printing position and means for preventing the said impression member from dropping off the. said shaft as it reciprocates.

23. A printing machine of the character described comprising a reciprocating supporting member, an impression member carried by said supporting member, a platen with which the limpression member cooperates when in printing position, means for moving said supporting member at predetermined intervals, means extraneous of the supporting member which engages and receives the impression member from the supporting member as the supporting member is moved, means for supplying a new impression member to the supporting member during its movement the said supporting member moving the new impression member to printing position.

24. A printing machine of the character described comprising a reciprocating supporting member, an impression member carried by said supporting member, a platenl with which the impression member cooperates when in printing position, means for moving said supporting member at predetermined intervals, means forremoving an impression member from the supporting member as the said supporting member is moved, means for supplying a new impression member to the supporting member after the old impression-member is removed the said supporting member moving the new impression member to printing position.

25. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating shaft, an impression member carried by said shaft, a platen'with ,which t-he impression member cooperates, means for reciprocating said shaft' #predetermined intervals, means for remo ng the impression member from the shaft as the shaft is reciprocated, means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft during its reciprpcation, the shaft moving the new impression member to the printing position.

26. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating shaft, an impression member having an opening through which the reciprocating shaft extends, a platen boperating with the impression member,` means for reciprocating the shaft. means for removing the impression member from the shaft as the shaft recipr cates. means for supplying a new impression member to the shaft during its reciprocation and moving the new impressidn member into position.

27. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a reciprocating shaft, an impression member provided with an opening into which the reciprocating shaft entends, aY platen cooperating with the i pression member, means for reciprocating the shaft, means for removing the impression member from the .shaft as the shaft reciprocate's, a magazine for holding other impression members, means for retaining the impression members in said magazine, the last mentioned means being operated to release a new impression member, means for operating the retaining means during the reciprocation of the shaft and permitting a new impression memberto move in front ofl the reciprocating shaft whereby said shaft engages with the opening in said impression member and moves it forward to the printed position.

28. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a driven shaft and fixed impression member carried by said shaft, a reciprocating shaft in line with the lined shaft, a removable impression memher carried by said shaft, a platen with which the impression members cooperate, means for reciprocating the reciprocating shaft at predetermined intervals, means for removing the removable impression member when the reciprocating shaft is reciprocated, means for supplying a new impression memher to said reciprocating shaft, the said reciprocating1 shaft moving the new impression member into printing position, a retaining member extending through the fixed shaft, but not turning therewith, said 'rel taining member engaging the impression member carried by t e reciprocating shaftandl moving with the reciprocating shaft through a of its reciprocation, the retaining member preventing the impression member carried by said shaft from dropping off the shaft.

29. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a driven shaft which is hollow, a fixed impression member carried by said shaft,a rod extending throngh the hollow driven shaft, a spring normally urging said rod through the driven shaft, a stop member carried by said roel to limit the movement of the rod through the said hollow shaft, a head carried by the rod, a reciprocating shaft in line with the iiired shaft and cooperating with the head upon the rod, a removable ,impression member carried by the said reciprocating shaft which is engaged hy the head upon the roel, platen with which the said impression members cooperate, means for reciprocating the reciprocating shaft at predetermined intervals, means for removing the removable impression member when the reciprocating shaft is reciprocated, a magazine for holcling their limpression. mancher-s, means for permitting a new move in front of adoring meiprooi.Jv

hy moving the new impression mem er into posi-tion, stop members carried by said impression memhers, said stop members engaging when the driven shaft is rotated, whereby these stops on the said impression-members engage and the removable impression memher is rotated.

80. A printing machine of the character described, comprising a driven shaft, a lined impression member carried oy said shaft, a reciprocating shaft in line with the lined shaft, removable impression members carried by said shaft, a platen with which the impression memhers cooperate, means for reciprocating the reciprocating shaft at predetermined intervals, means for removing theremovahle impression member when the reciprocating shaft is reciprocated,a magazine for holding other impression memhers, means for permitting a new impression member to move in front of the reciprocating shaft during reciprocation of said shaft thereloy moving the new impression member into position, stop members carried hy the said impression members, said stop menihers engaging when the driven shaft is rotated whereby the stops on the said impression members engage and the removable impression memloer is rotated.

3l. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter being in part constant upon all the slips and in part varying upon each successive slip, compris -ing a plurality of links which are pivotecl to each other, printing characters carried by each link, the characters of each link diering from the characters of the others, a

platen with which each linlr cooperates, a'

second printing instrumentality consisting pf an impression member and its platen, means for supplying a strip of impression receiving' material to the links and their platen and to the second printing instrumentality in succession, means for operatingthe printing mechanism in harmony, the

impressions of the mechanisms registering when printed upon the strip of impression receiving material, means for severing the strip of impression receiving material at points between the printed impressions thereon, a receptacle for receiving the slips when severed and means for engaging the slip and pushing it into the said receptacle after it is severed,

32. A printing machine for printing a series of slips, the printed matter 'beine' in part constant upon all of the slipsand in para varying upon each successive slip, comprising an impression member and a platen with which the impression member coperates, means for supplying a strip of impression receiving material to pass between the ession and platen, means strip into lng! lengths, a receptacle for holding the slips adapted to engage and hold the slip after after being severed, e, spring retained memit has been passed beneath the same by the ber adapted to engage each slip as it passes said spring held member. to the receptacle, a rotatable arm for en- In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my 10 5 aging with the said spring held member signature in the presence of two Witnesses. or moving it, an arm within the receptacle GEORGE L. FULK. 

